Can closure



Mar. 13, 1923.

D. FERGUSON CAN CLOSURE Filed. Feb. '7, 1921 Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

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DONALD FERGUSON, OF CHATFIELD, MINNESOTA.

CAN CLOSURE.

Application filed February 7, 1921. Serial No. 443,135.

To all whom 2'2. may concern Be it known that I, DONALD FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chatfield, in the county of Fillmore and 5 State 01 Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Can Closure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to closures for cans and the like and more particularlyto oil cup closures.

The object or the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient closure of this character which may be quickly opened or closed by a s partial turn in one direction or the other of a rotary member having arcuate closing plates or shutters attached thereto at one end, their other ends being mounted to slide radially in guides leading from the opening controlled by the closure.

Another object is to so construct the shutter plates and co-operating elements that they may be cheaply manufactured and which form a closure thoroughly effective to shut out dust and the like from'the container of which it forms a part.

With these and other objects 'in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the inven tion.

Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of the closure constituting this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front or top plan view of the closure with the shutters or plates inclosed operative position.

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig- 2 with the shutters in closed position, and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section with the shutters removed showing the slot-ted base plate in plan view.

In the embodiment illustrated, the closure constituting this invention is shown mounted in a container indicated at C having a flanged opening 0 to receive the closure. The closure comprises a cup-shaped member 1, having a laterally and outwardly extending flange 2, at the top thereof. The inner end of the member 1, is extended and cylindrical in contour, as at 5, and formed integral with the cylindrical portion 5, is the bottom 3, of the member 1." The cylindrical portion 5, of the member 1, is snugly fitted within the opening 0, of the container, and the closure is' employed for opening and 0 closing the said opening 0. The bottom 3, of the member 1, is provided with a centrally disposed opening surounded by an an nular flange 4, formed integral with the inner face of the bottom 3. Mounted against the outer face of the bottom 3, of the member 1, and arranged within the cylindrical portion 5, is a plate 6, the latter corresponding in thickness to the depth of the cylindrical portion 5. This plate 6 has a central opening 7 of the same shape and size as the opening in the bottom 3' of the member 1 and registers therewith at-a-ll times. This plate 6 may be secured within the member 1 by shrinking or in any other suitable manner, and is provided with a. plurality of radially extending slots 8 leadingfrom said opening and terminating adjacent the perimeterot'the plate. Three of these slots are here shown, spaced equal distances apart and are designed to co-operate withthree shutter plates 10 which are made arcuate in form and operate in a manner presently to be described. These plates or shutters 10 are of a width substantially the same as the distance between the perimeter of the plate 6 and the wall of the opening therein so that when said plates are in their full open position, as shown in Fig. 2 the inner edges will substantially register with the walls of the openings in plate 6 and bottom 3 respectively.

The arcuate plates 10 are preferably rounded at their ends and at one end are provided with lugs 11, and at the other end with L-shaped fingers 12. The lugs 11, eX- tend in opposite directions with respect to the fingers. The lugs 11 are designed to enter. and slide in the slots 8 which form guides for the plates 10 when moved into open or closed position by means presently to be described.

A shutter actuating member 13 shown in the form of a bowl or cup providedat its outer edge with an outwardly extending inturned flange 14 adapted to be crimped around the flange 2 of the member 1, as is shown clearlydn Fig. 1 forming a pocket to opening i house the flange 2 parts are assembled these three openings Will register.

The bottom 15 of themember 13 provided with three apertures 17 therein spaced'equal distances apart and which are designed to receive the fingers 12 of the sliutters lO'which arepassed through said. apertures and bent over against the inner face of said bottom '15 as is shown clearly in Figs land? and by means of which the actuating member 13 is connected with the shutters at the ends thereof opposite to those which are en aged with'the guides or slots 6. RVhen the parts are assembled, the arcuate plates 10 are mountcdwith one end engaged with the slots 8 and the other end lapping the slot engaged end of the adjacent plate, as is shown clearly in Fig. 2, and when in open position are arranged as shown in said figure in the form of acircle, the central opening of which corresponds to the openingsof' the members 3, 6 and 15 thereb'y' a'lfording access to the interior of the container C for theinse'rtion or removal ofthe contents. 1

@The cup-shaped member 13 beingrotatable within the bowl shaped member 1 and 8 in plate connected" at its bottom with'the arcuate plates' lO w ll when partially turned inone direction or the other open or close said plates according to the direction n which it is turned. Ifturned toward the left the opening is as shown in Fig. 2, while if turned toward the right willclose them as shown in Figjt Itwill thus beseen that a closure constructed as herein shown and de scribed may be quicklyopened or closed by a] simplejpartialturn of the member 13 so that ready access may be had to the interior of the container, cup or any other receptacle designed to be equipped'with a closure of thischaracter.

' By constructing the plates 10 of thin sheet metal and bending thev tips of the ends thereof in oppositedirections to form pins for vcom'iectin'gthem with the gui des8 and P with the actuating member 13 produces a verycheap structure and yet one which will be thoroughly effective in connecting the plates in the manner desired.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosedin the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will ,be understood that any modifications within the scope ofthe' claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from which may be either an .oil

plate seated in said cylindrical inner portion and formed with radially disposed slots, a cup-shaped elementmounted in and shiftably connected with said member and hav-j ing an opening at its bottom registering with the opening in said plate and bottom of said member, the bottom of said element spacedfrom said plate, and a series of arcuate overlapping shutters arranged between said element and plate and each having one end provided with a lug, and its other end with a finger, said lugs slidably mounted in said slots and said fingers connected to the bottom of said element.

v 2. A closure for liquid containers com prising a cup-shaped member having a cylindrical inner portion provided with a bottom formed with an opening, an apertured plate seated'in said inner cylindricalpon tion and formed with radially disposed slots, a cup-shaped element mounted in said member and having an opening in its bottom element and plate and each having one end provided with a lug an'dits other end provided with afinger, said lugs. shiftably mounted in. said slotsv and said fingers con nee-ting the shutters at the bottom of said element, and said member and element having inherent means for shiftably connecting the element to the member.

3. A closure for liquid containers com prising a cup-shaped member having acylindrical inner portion provided with abottom formed with an opening, an apertured plate seated in said inner cylindrical portion and formed .W lfth radially disposed slots, a cup-shaped element mounted in said member and having, an openinginits bottom registering with the opening in said plate and'said member, the bottom of said element spaced from said plate and provided with a series of apertures, a series of arcuate overlapping shutters arranged between said element and plate and each 'havingone end provided with aluganddts other end with an L-shaped finger,'sa'id lugs shiftably mounted in said slots and'said fingers ex tending through the apertures in the bottom of said element and further overlappingsaid'bottom.

In testimony hereto.

DONALD FERGUSON.

whereof, my signature 

